Semiautomatic engine starter control



June 5, 1951 J. E. BUXTON 2,556,063

VSEMIAUTOIIATIC ENGINE STARTER CONTROL Filed Sept. 24, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

James 6? 792142511 gm AT 0mm) June 5, 1951 J. E. BUXTON ssunuroumc ENGINE swarm common 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 24, 1948 WITNESS: I

INVEN TOR. James 23m Z'TORNEY Patented June 5, 1951 SEMIAUTOMATIC ENGINE STARTER CONTROL James E. Buxton, Elmira, N. Y., assignor to Bendix Aviation Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 24, 1948, Serial No. 51,097

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to a semi-automatic engine starter control and more particularly to a system for controlling actuation of a starter for internal combustion engines coincidentally with the operation of a transmission controlling element such as a clutch pedal.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel engine starter control which is simple in construction, positive in action, and economical to manufacture and install.

It is another object to provide such a device which is used to control a detent for an antikickout starter drive of the type illustrated in the patent to Oliver, No. 2,444,109, issued June 29, 1948.

It is another object to provide such a device in which the operation of a manual control element such as the clutch pedal will render operae tive a meshing detent and anti-kickout latch, and thereafter cause energization of the starting system.

Further objects and advantages will be apparent from the followin description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. l is a semi-diagrammatic illustration of one preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the starter control structure illustrated in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of a third embodiment of the invention.

lnFig. 1 of the drawing there is illustrated a starting system including a starting motor I havingan extended armature shaft 2 the outer. end of which is supported in an outboard bearing 3- in an extension 4 of the motor housing. A starter drive indicated generally by numeral 5 of the type shown and described in said patent to Oliver, No. 2,444,109, is mounted on the armature shaft 2 and serves to connect the armature shaft through a pinion 6 to a gear I on the engine to be started, such connection being made by longitudinal movement of the drive on the armature shaft 2 to bring the pinion 6 into mesh with the engine gear 1.

Means for energizing the starting motor is provided comprising a battery 8 grounded at 9 and connected by a lead I l to a switch terminal l2. A second switch terminal I3 is connected by a lead [4 to the starting motor binding post l5, the starting motor being grounded as indicated at Hi to complete the starting circuit. The starting switch, which is indicated generally by numeral ll, comprises a plunger is which is slidably mounted through the floor board IQ of the vehicle on which the power .plant is mounted in such position that the head 21 of the switch plunger is in the path of the clutch pedal 22 of the vehicle so that when the clutch pedal is fully depressed it will engage the end of the plunger and move a bridging contact 23 thereon into engagement with the fixed contacts l2, l3 so as to complete the starting circuit.

Means for holding the starter drive 5 in cranklllg position with the pinion 6 meshed with the engine gear l is provided comprising a plunger 24 slidably mounted in the extension 4 of the housing of the starting motor I in such position that downward movement of the plunger 24 will cause it to engage irictionally on the periphery of the drive 5, and when the drive has moved longitudinally into crankin position, the end of the plunger will engage any one of the pockets 25 formed in a latch ring 26 swiveled on the end of the drive. The latch plunger 24 thus holds the drive in cranking position as long as the plunger is depressed.

Means for actuating the latch plunger 24 coincidentally with the energization of the starting system is provided comprising a lever arm 21 pivoted at 28 to the floor of the vehicle and arranged to engage and actuate the plunger when rotated in a clockwise direction. Means for so rotating the lever arm 21 is provided in the form of a second lever arm 29 rigidly connected with the arm 21 and extending into the path of the switch plunger 18 whereby movement of the switch plunger to close the starting switch is caused to actuate the latch plunger 24. In order to yieldingly press the latch plunger .24 against the drive 5 while permitting further movement of the switch plunger [8 to close the starting switch, the latch plunger is provided with a hollow head member 3| slidably mounted thereon and maintained normally in an extended position, as illustrated, by a spring 32. A second spring 33 serves to normally maintain the plunger in its upper or retracted position.

In the operation of this embodiment of the in vention, depression of the clutch pedal 22 by the operator beyond its normal path of movement in releasing the clutch causes it to engage the head 2! of switch plunger 18. The downward movement of the switch plunger [8 first causes the lever arm 21 to engage the head 3| of the latch. plunger 24 and move the plunger into frictional engagement with the starter drive 5. Further downward movement of clutch pedal 22.

permitted by compression of the spring 32 of the latch plunger 24, causes the bridgin contact 23 of the starting switch to engage stationary contacts l2, it thus completing the starting circuit and causing actuation of the starting motor I. The starter drive 5 is thereby moved longitudinally to the left so as to mesh the pinion 6 with the engine gear I, whereupon cranking of the engine takes place. The longitudinal movement of the starter drive brings the latch ring 26 into registry with the latch plunger 24, the end of which is consequently projected by expansion of the spring 32 into a pocket of the latch ring, so as to hold the pinion 6 in mesh as long as the operator maintains the clutch pedal'22 fully depressed. When the engine starts, release of the clutch pedal 22 by the operator permits the parts to return to their idle positions.

The switch plunger I8 is preferably provided with a return spring 34 of such stiffness as requires perceptible additional pressure on the clutch pedal to effect closure of the starting switch. Inadvertent unnecessary operation of the starting system is thus avoided since the operator must consciously exert the additional pressure necessary to compress the springs 34, 32 before the starting switch is caused to close. 1 In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, the means for controlling the starter drive latch is separated from the starting switch, and the latch structure is simplified by incorporating a yielding connection in the actuating means therefor. As illustrated, a starting switch M of conventional type is mounted on the floor board of the vehicle where its plunger 42 will be engaged and actuated by the final depression of the clutc pedal 22 so as to cause energization of the starting motor I. A latch actuating plunger G3 is also mounted in the fioor board iii of the vehicle in the path of movement of the clutch "pedal 22, and arranged to engage a lever arm 44 formed on a shaft 25 rotatably mounted in a bearing as (Fig. 3); a similar shaf" ii is arranged coaxial with the shaft 15 and yielda-bly coupled thereto by a suitable means such as a spring :58. Shaft il carries a lever arm 49 arranged to engage latch plunger 5% slidably mounted in the extension i of the motor housing in position to engage the starter drive 5 in the same manner as the latch plunger 25 in the embodiment first described. Spring 52 serves to maintain the latch plunger 5i normally retracted.

In the operation of this embodiment of the invention, the depression of clutch pedal 22 by the operator causes it to simultaneously engage and actuate the starting switch plunger 52 and the latch actuating plunger The depression oi the latter causes the lever arm 49 to move the latch plunger 5i into engagement with the starter drive 5, after which the coupling spring til yields sufficiently to permit closure of the starting switch 6%. The starter is thereupon actuated, and the drive maintained in mesh by the latch 5! as long as the clutch pedal 22 is held down by the operator.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. i is more particularly adapted to the "inboard type of drive in which the starter pinion moves toward lie starting motor when it enters into mesh with the engine gear. As th r-e shown, starter drive is mounted on the Gl lllfil'liiEil armature shaft 2 of the starting motor I so as to move toward the starting motor to mesh the pinion 56 with the engine gear 51. A latch plunger 58 is slidably mounted in the extension 59 of the motor housing in position to engage the drive 55, and is arranged to be actuated by a bell crank lever 6| pivotally mounted at 62 on said housing extension.

Means for actuating the bell crank lever iil is provided comprising a push rod 63 having a telescopic section 6 yieldably held extended by r a sprin 65, and having a head 66 in the path of travel of the clutch pedal 22. The starting switch 81 also has its plunger 68 in the path 01 movement of the clutch pedal 22.

In the operation of this embodiment, depression of the clutch pedal 22 first actuates the latch plunger 58 by means of the push rod 63 and bell crank: lever after which compression of the spring 65 permits further movement of the clutch pedal to close the starting switch 6?. Actuation of the starting motor thereupon causes engagement and rotation of the starter drive 55, and the drive is maintained in cranking position by the latch 58 as long as the clutch pedal 22 is maintained depressed.

Although certain embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments are possible and various changes may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In combination with a starting system for internal combustion engines including a starting motor, a battery and a starting switch for controlling the energization of the starting motor, drive gearing including a pinion and barrel member having a threaded connection to the starting motor to engage a gear of the engine to be started and automatically disengage therefrom when the engine becomes self operative, a thrust ring swivelled on the barrel member, a clutch pedal for controlling the connection of the engine to its load, a detent and latch member, means actuated by said clutch pedal for moving said detent and latch member into engagement with the barrel member to resist its rotation and thus insure traversal of said pinion into engagement with the engine gear and thereafter cooperating with the thrust ring to prevent disengagement of the pinion, and means whereby final movement of the clutch pedal in a direction to disengage the engine from its load, first renders said detent operative and then causes closure of the starting switch.

2. A starting system as set forth in claim 1 in which the means for actuating the latch from the clutch pedal includes a yielding connection permitting the movement of the pedal to close the starting switch after the latch has been rendered operative.

JAMES E. EUXTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,761,540 Schwarze l- June 3, 1930 1,792,583 Good Feb. 17, 1931 a t 44,109 Oliver June 29, 1948 2,453,657 Buxton Nov. 9, 1942, 2,455,327 Buxton Nov. 30, 1948 

